Dear Families, Staff, and Community Members,

We know that many of you are concerned about the Executive Order issued January 29, 2025. Please note that on February 21, 2025, a federal judge ordered a temporary injunction of this order. The policy of Providence Public Schools is still to affirm the gender of all children enrolled in the district. Furthermore, the mission and vision of the Office of Equity and Belonging has not changed.

Our mission is still to promote and sustain a culture of dignity and respect that values equity, diversity, and belonging, increasing equitable access for ALL students, so they may achieve a high-quality and competitive education. Our vision is still to transform the district’s culture and climate into one that truly supports educational equity at all levels.  The Office of Equity and Belonging remains committed to doing its part to dramatically improve academic achievement for ALL students, by remaining committed to our core values and functions.

We will continue to support students of all races, genders, nationalities, cultures, economic status, abilities, religions, and ages. Although our office is small, we remain committed to offering a broad range of opportunities for adults and young people to learn and grow. Additionally, please keep in mind that we have a wide range of policies and standard operating procedures (aligned to our state policies and procedures) that are designed to support all students. All of this information, including links to a multitude of resources, is available on our web page located on the PPSD website at https://www.providenceschools.org/Page/4742.  We will endeavor to update our web page weekly. If you have questions or need any support, please reach out to us at equity@ppsd.org.

Best,

N.E.O.

Dr. Nkolika E. Onye